Throttle valve



Feb. 2, 1965 w. A. sTRAuss 3,168,111

THROTTLE VALVE Filed Dec. 22, 1961 A TORNE YS 3,168,111 Patented Feb. 2,1965 3,163,111 THROTTLE VALVE Wiliiam A. Strauss, 712 Marburn Brive,Columbus, hio Filed Dec. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 161,715 8 Claims. (Cl.137-6255) This invention relates to uid throttling valves and moreparticularly to a valve means adapted to throttle the volumetric flowrate of liquids in a substantially linear manner with respect to themovement of a valve actuator.

In the metering of liquids `and gases, for example, it is frequentlynecessary to precisely vary the iiow rate in a linear manner through arange that extends from a positive shut-olf position to a full iiowposition. In general, the apparatus of the present invention providesboth linear iow rate control and positive shut-off by means of improvedow control devices of the type that incorporate a porous element inmoveable confronting relationship with an impervious wall surfacewhereby movement of an actuator progressively and linearly increases ordecreases the area of the porous element exposed to the pressuredierential of the fluid.

More specifically, the valve means of the present invention comprises anactuator means that not only meters the fluid flow in a linear manner,but also functions in combination with the housing means of the valve toform a positive shut-oft for the valve.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved throttle valve adapted to linearly vary the volumetric iiow ofa fluid from a positive shutolf position to a full ow position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein preferred forms of embodiments of the invention areclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a partial side sectional view of a throttle valve constructedin accordance with the present invention, the section being taken alonga vertical plane through the center line of the device;

FIG. 2 is a second partial side sectional view of a modified throttlevalve constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sectionbeing taken along a vertical plane through the center line of thedevice; and

FIG. 3 is a third partial side sectional view of a modified throttlevalve constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sectionbeing taken along a vertical plane through the center line of thedevice.

Referring in detail to the drawing, FIG. l illustrates a throttle valvethat includes a porous element Si) slideably mounted in a bore 90 formedin the cup-shaped portion 72 of housing means indicated generally at6th.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the top end of porous element 80 isrigidly secured to the lower end 76 of an actuator means 62, the latterbeing slideable mounted in a bore 61 through top closure 64 and extendedinto a chamber 74 formed by cylindrical inner housing surface 7 S.

An inlet port 78 communicates with chamber 74 and the porous outer sidesurface 75 of element Sti.

Top closure 64 includes a resilient shaft seal 66 and a resilienthousing seal 70.

As seen in FIG. 2, the lower end of porous element Si) is covered by animpervious washer 36 which is rigidly attached to the porous element 8@by welding, cernenting, or other suitable attaching means.

The outer porous side surface 75 of the porous element 80, FIG. l, isengaged by an annular resilient seal 82 in the annular wall of bore 90and 86 includes a similar seal 88 that prevents the rapid flow of riuidbetween the outer fs sa surface of the porous element and the innersurfaee of bore 96.

A port 92 is provided for the inlet or outlet of the flowing iuidcontrolled by the valve.

The porous element Sti may include bore 84 having any dimensionincluding zero.

Referring next to the modification of FIG. 2, a cupshaped housingportion 166 and top closure 104 form a housing means indicated generallyat 100. An actuator means 162 is attached to a cup-shaped end portion116 at a welded junction 103 in slideable engagement with the innersurface 108 of housing portion 166, an annular resilient seal 112 beingprovided between the confronting surfaces.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 a porous element 114 is secured at its lowerend to the top surface of a threaded impervious washer 124 that includesan outer surface 1213 that forms a shut-ott portion. When actuator 102is moved downwardly, an annular seal 118 at the inner surface 11i) ofthe cup-shaped actuator portion 116 form a shut-o valve portion thatmoves into seal surrounding relationship with the shut-olf valve portion123 formed by the outer surface of a washer 124 mounted in the lower endof the housing means at a threaded junction 130.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, one of the ports 132 in the housingmeans communicates with the other of the ports 12S via bore 120, theannular wall of pfzfrous element 114, and chamber of 122.

Reference is next made to FIG. 3 which illustrates still another modiedthrottle valve constructed in accordance with the present invention thatincludes a housing means indicated generally at and provided with alower Casing portion 142, a top closure 144, a threaded bore 172, andports 154 and 176.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 a porous element 158 is provided with a bore162 and threads 160 in threaded engagement with the threaded innersurface of bore 172.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 the upper end of porous element 158 isrigidly attached to the lower threaded end 156 of an actuator means 143,the latter being freely extended through a bore 141 in top closure 144.

The lower end of porous element 158 is sealed by a rigidly attachedimpervious washer 164 that includes a bore 166 and an outer threadedsurface 168 in engagement with the threaded inner surface of bore 172.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 the positive shut-olf occurs when the lowerannular end portion 180 of actuator means 14.3 and a resilient seal 152carried thereon are moved downwardly into an annular recess 170 in thehousing means wherein the annular resilient seal 152 engages the innersurface 182 of recess 170.

The fluid ow between the ports 154 and 176, FIG. 3, occurs via bores 174and 172, a hole 166 through impervious washer 164, and the annular wallof porous element 158.

The engagement of threads 168 on impervious washer 1611 and threads 160on porous element 158 with threads in bore 172 comprise an integralactuating means.

The porous element 158, FIG. 3, may include bore 162 of any dimensionincluding zero.

In the various figures, elements 36, 50, 126, 143, 148, and obviouslyconstitute O-ring seals not specifically mentioned in describing thefigures. It will be understood that these seals and the othersspecifically mentioned can be modified in type and form withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

In operation it should be pointed out that the volumetric rate or" fluidflow through any of the porous elements illustrated is directlyproportional to i) The surface area of the porous material exposed tothe pressure differential large surface areas of high porosity materialcan beem ployed. For smaller volume ows, low porosity restriclors andlong flow paths throughthe restrictor can be used. Direct control -ofthese parameters may be made in many ways, several of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each of these variousembodiments provides anY actuator means housing means'andf porouselement that are combined in unique structuralY arrangements so as toprovide both ylinear controlof the f iuid flow and positivel shut-off atthelow 'end' of the flow control range.

While the forms of embodiments of the present invention as hereindisclosedV constitute preferredf'forms, it is to be lunderstood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope ofthe claimswhich follow.

I claim:

1. 'A metering valve comprising, in combination, hous' ing means forminga chamber including an inner wally surface, an 'inletvport and anoutletport; Yactuator means moveably mounted in said housing andvincluding an actuator wally surface; a porous element forming passagemeans connecting said two ports, said porous element and one of saidwall surfaces being in relative slideable engagement with one another; arst shut-off valve portion on one of said means; a second shut-ott valveportion on the other of said means, one of said valve portions beingmoveable through a How metering rangeV and into sealed engagement withthe other of said Valve portions by movement of said actuator; and animpervious washer in sealing engagement with an end of said porouselement and including a bore connecting said porous element with one ofsaid ports, said'porous element including an outer Vside surfacecommunicating with the other of said ports.

2. The apparatus defined in claim l wherein said actuator means includesa tip forming one of said shut-off valve portions and said housing meansincludes a bore' forming the other of said shut-o valve portions.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said porousV element isattached to said actuator means for longitudinal movement therewith,said outer, side surface of said porous clement slideably engaging theinner surface of a bore in said housing means.

4. The apparatus deiined in claim 1 wherein saidporo'us element isattached to an end of said Vactuator means and provided with a threadedouter wall in threaded engagement with a threaded bore in said housingmeans.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said porous element isattached to an end of said actuator meansv andV provided with a threadedouter wall in threaded engagement with a threaded bore in said housingmeans and wherein one-of said' shut-off valve portions is'formed by saidend of said actuator means and theiother of said shut-off valve portionsis formed by a bore in said housing means.

6. A metering valve comprising, in'combination, housing Ymeans forming achamber Yincluding an inner walll surface, an inlet port and an outletport; actuator means movably mounted Vin said housing and including anactuator wall surface; a `porous element forming pasi sage meansconnecting said two ports; an impervious Washer in sealing engagementwith an end of said porous ele rent and including a bore connecting saidporous element with one of said ports, said porous element including anouter side surface communicating with the other of said ports; a tirstshut-oit valve portion on said actuator means; a second shut-off valveportion on said impervious washer, one of said valve portions beingmoveable through a flow metering range and into sealed engagement withthe other of said valve portions by movement of said actuator means; andsaid actuator-'means including'a portion previdedfwith an imperviousinnertwall in slidingv engagement with the outer wall ofvsaid porouselement.

7. A meteringvalve comprising, in combination, housing means forming achamber Yincluding -an inner wall surface, an inlet port and anoutletport, actuator means moveably mounted in said housingand'includingan actuator wall surface; a porous element formingl passage meansconnecting said two ports; an impervious washer in sealing engagementwith an end of saidporous element and including a bore connecting saidporous element with one of said ports, said porous elementincluding anouter` side surface communicating with the other of' said portsg: afirst shut-off valve portion on said actuator means; a sec-v ondshut-oit valve portion ony said impervious washer,

one of said'valve portions being moveable throughv a flow metering rangeand into sealedA engagement with the other of said valve portions bymovement of said actuator means; said actuatormeans including a tipportion forming one of said Shut-off valve portions andnnoveableiintosealed' surrounding relationship with theother of -saidshut-off valveportions formedby a portioniof said impervious washer.'

8. A metering Valve comprising, in combination; housing means forming achamber includingan' inner wall` surface, aninlet port and an outletport; kactuator means moveably mounted in said housing and including anactuator` wall surface; a porous' element forming passage meansconnecting'sad two ports; an impervious washer in sealing engagementwith an end of said porous element and including a bore connecting saidporous element with oneof said ports; said 'porous' element 'includingan-,outer side surface communicating with the other of said ports;V

a l'irst shut-off valve `portion on said actuator means; a secondshut-off valve portion on said` impervious washer, one of said valveportions being movable through a tlo'w metering'range and into sealedengagement with the other of said valve portions by movement of saidactuator means; said actuator means including a tip portion providedwith an impervious inner wall in sliding engagement with the outerv/allof said porous element and where-` insaid tip portion includes Vanannular end forming one of said shut-off Yvalve portions and moveableinto sealed surrounding'relationshipwith the other of said shut-olfvalve portions formed washer.

References Cited in the yiileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS893,884 Sturgis Ju1y 21, i908 1,307,986 Randall June 24, 1919 2,517,061Stackelberg ,Aug l, 1950 2,819,799 \VilkerSon Ian. 14, 1958 2,887,129Stear May 19, 1959 FOVREIGN PATENTS 24,155 Great Britain Dec. 3l, 18921,152,740' France l Sept. 9, 1957 by a portion Vof said impervious

1. A METERING VALVE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, HOUSING MEANS FORMING ACHAMBER INCLUDING AN INNER WALL SURFACE, AN INLET PORT AND AN OUTLETPORT; ACTUATOR MEANS MOVEABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING AND INCLUDING ANACTUATOR WALL SURFACE; A POROUS ELEMENT FORMING PASSAGE MEANS CONNECTINGSAID TWO PORTS, SAID POROUS ELEMENT AND ONE OF SAID WALL SURFACES BEINGIN RELATIVE SLIDEABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER; A FIRST SHUT-OFFVALVE PORTION ON ONE OF SAID MEANS; A SECOND SHUT-OFF VALVE PORTION ONTHE OTHER OF SAID MEANS, ONE OF SAID VALVE PORTIONS BEING MOVEABLETHROUGH A FLOW METERING RANGE AND INTO SEALED EN-